‘We gave him the first drink on the house': U2's The Edge celebrates his Irish citizenship in Kerry
David Howell Evans (63), better known as The Edge, was among thousands of people who attended the citizenship ceremonies in Gleneagle Arena in Killarney on Monday becoming a citizen some 60 years after first coming to Ireland.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
10 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Noel Gallagher's hefty bill for weekend hotel stay during Oasis gigs
Noel Gallagher's hefty bill for weekend hotel stay during Oasis gigs The guitarist and lead singer of Oasis stayed at the five-star Kildare hotel in Maynooth on Friday afternoon during the band's Croke Park gig in Dublin and the bill was rather high Noel Gallagher performing at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, kicking off the reunion tour (Image: PA) Rock legend, and Oasis lead guitarist, Noel Gallagher reportedly spent a whopping €80,000 on his weekend stay at an Irish hotel as they prepared for their Dublin gigs. The guitarist checked into the five-star Carton House hotel on Friday afternoon and was spotted enjoying a few pints at Brady's Clockhouse pub in the Irish town of Maynooth shortly after his arrival, causing quite a buzz amongst the locals. It has been revealed that Noel's bill for his weekend getaway totalled €80,000, with an insider disclosing that his own suite cost him a hefty €7,000. The remainder of the bill covered the accommodation costs for his daughter, Anaïs's room, as well as his security and management team. In contrast, his brother Liam chose to stay at the luxurious five-star Powerscourt Hotel in Wicklow, arriving at Dublin Airport's VIP lounge on Saturday morning, as reported by the Irish Mirror. Unlike Noel, Liam kept a low profile until he took to the stage at Croke Park on Saturday night. Though Liam too, booked a luxury stay, he's wasn't one to stroll around until the time of the band's performance (Image: PA) This weekend marked Oasis's first return to Ireland since 2009, with fans praising the sell-out tour on social media following the event. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter Over 160,000 fans were treated to a stellar performance by the rockers across Saturday and Sunday night, reports Dublin Live. Article continues below However, if experts are to be believed, the pair of brothers have been doing more than just getting their fans nostalgic. As UK inflation is set to have edged higher last month as summer spending pushed up flight and hotel costs, and food prices continue to climb, one economist believes an "Oasis bump" could have contributed to higher accommodation prices in July. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation is widely anticipated to have risen in July from the 3.6% rate recorded in June, according to data to be published by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday. Sanjay Raja, a senior economist at Deutsche Bank, estimated that price pressures would have pushed CPI to 3.8% last month. "July inflation will likely see price momentum rise further into uncomfortable territory," he wrote in a research note. The school summer holidays are likely to have led to increases in airfares, rail costs, and package holiday prices. Mr Raja also highlighted a potential spike in hotel prices, which he said could partly be due to the British band Oasis starting their reunion tour in July. The concerts attracted large crowds to arenas in Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh. Accommodation prices could have risen by as much as 9% in July compared with June, "with the Oasis concerts having a strong impact on Manchester prices alone," the economist said. Fans, pushed forward though. Despite not being able to secure tickets for Oasis' second sold-out gig at Croke Park on Sunday, throngs of fans still managed to be part of the night, gathering outside the stadium for a mass singalong. As Liam and Noel Gallagher took to the stage for their final Dublin performance of their reunion tour, those without tickets created a festival-like atmosphere on the streets surrounding the GAA venue. Footage taken outside showed fans of all ages belting out hits like Half The World Away, their voices reverberating across Dublin's northside. After a weekend of rocking Croke Park, Oasis members found time to unwind at O'Donoghue's pub in Dublin's south city centre on Sunday night. Just hours after their performance, Noel, Oasis guitarist Paul Arthurs, also known as 'Bonehead', Gem Archer and Joey Waronker were seen letting their hair down in the Baggot Street pub. It's believed that Liam decided to skip the after-show party. Joining the band for a well-deserved pint were celebrities including Dominic West, Jasmine Guinness, Laura Whitmore and MCD's Denis Desmond and Emmett J Scanlan. U2 frontman Bono, who attended Sunday night's concert, is also understood to have popped into O'Donoghues, leaving around 1am. Well-known personalities including Vogue Williams and comedian Carl Mullan were seen amongst the audience on the opening evening at Croke Park, whilst Tánaiste Simon Harris secured a place for the Sunday evening performance. The Fine Gael leader even wore an Oasis bucket hat as he praised the group for an "incredible gig" and "magical atmosphere" the previous evening. Riverdance icon Michael Flatley was also present in the Croke Park crowd over the weekend. He took a photograph with Liam and Noel's mother Peggy, showing appreciation to the brothers for a "great night". This represents the first time Peggy has been photographed at their reunion tour since the Mayo-born lady's knee surgery several months ago. Liam dedicated Stand By Me to his mother, telling the audience: "This next one's for me mam, she's had a knee operation in the past couple of months, this one's called Stand By Me." Former England forward Peter Crouch also captured a photograph with Flatley alongside his wife Abbey Clancy, while television personalities Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian also succeeded in obtaining Oasis tickets. Article continues below Other recognisable faces amongst the thousands at Croke Park over the weekend included Eric Roberts, Anna Daly, Glenda Gilson, Charlene Murphy and Pippa O'Connor.
Spectator
3 hours ago
- Spectator
John Boyne and the bitter truth about the Polari Prize
The news that the Polari Prize for LGBTQ+ writing is not to be awarded this year after outrage that the novelist John Boyne was included on the longlist represents one of the more head-scratching reversals that the world of books has seen in a considerable time. Boyne's novel Earth was selected on merit, but the Irish author, who proudly describes himself as a 'Terf' and has dared to be photographed with JK Rowling, the nemesis of the trans movement, was swiftly pilloried as soon as the longlist was announced on 1 August. Judges resigned in disgust, other longlisted writers called Boyne's views 'disgusting' and 'abhorrent' and an open letter, signed by 800 people, was circulated condemning both the author and the prize for daring to even consider him at all. Initially the organisers attempted to stand firm, arguing that: 'Even within our community, we can at times hold radically different positions on substantive issues. This is one of those times.' Boyne, who made a dignified public statement attesting to the 'extraordinary amount of bullying and intimidation' that he had faced as a result of the longlisting, did not offer to withdraw from contention altogether, but instead asked that the judges not consider his book for the shortlist. This proved inadequate, and the Polari organisers therefore bowed to the inevitable and cancelled this year's prize altogether, depriving someone who could have done with it. Quite where the award goes in future years is anyone's guess. The existence of the Polari Prize has always been a good thing in terms of its giving exposure – and, of course, a much-needed sum of cash – to writers who might often be marginalised in wider circles. Yet the nature of the award also means that well-established household names such as Alan Hollinghurst – and, of course, Boyne – are going to be competing with lesser-known writers on what is hardly the same playing field. Since the prize was first established in 2011, by the author Paul Burston, the debate around LGBTQ+ writing has only intensified; the question is no longer what it is, and more what it should be. Hence the organisers' statement that they have 'decided to pause the prize this year while we increase the representation of trans and gender non-conforming judges on the panels.' There are different ways of approaching this vexed issue. It might seem fairer not to attempt to award a competitive prize on literary merit and instead to divert the funds into a grant specifically designed for the kind of writers who would benefit most from financial assistance of this kind. Otherwise, the suspicion will remain that the winners in future are not being given the prizes for the quality of their books, and more because they have the right public profile. Yet as the vehemently pro-Boyne faction have shown on social media, this is hardly a fight in which there is only one side, and it would not be too surprising if a wealthy benefactor attempted to fund an anti-trans literature prize as a deliberate snub to the Polari. Chaos, whatever happens, seems assured. Writers are making less and less money with every year that goes past. Publishers' advances are declining, book sales are falling and the opportunities for exposure, decent or otherwise, are dwindling. Once, selling a thousand copies of a novel was seen as pathetic, even career-threatening; now, it's an admirable standard to aim for. It is a depressing side-effect of this very public ruckus that it has contributed to a sense of the literary world being one that is irrevocably split and in thrall to sensational publicity, rather than good writing. Alas, the time to celebrate writers, and their work, rather than their pronouns or who they're photographed drinking champagne with, may well have passed. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher refuses to drop spat with Edinburgh council bosses while on stage in different city
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIAM Gallagher has refused to drop his spat with Edinburgh Council after slamming officials again during a gig in Dublin. The Oasis frontman took another swipe at the local authority bosses while on stage at Croke Park in the Irish capital over the weekend. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Liam Gallagher took another swipe at Edinburgh Council while on stage in a different city Credit: Giovanni Guida 3 The Oasis frontman slammed bosses again while playing in Dublin Credit: Giovanni Guida It comes after we exclusively revealed council chiefs branded Oasis fans 'drunk', 'lairy', 'fat' and 'old' in secret safety briefings. Officials claimed that the concert-goers would be mainly 'rowdy' 'middle-aged men' who 'take up more room' and will drink to 'medium to high intoxication'. Liam previously called out snooty bosses over their remarks on several occasions and also during the three Murrayfield shows. And he hasn't stopped slamming them since leaving the Scottish capital. While on stage in Dublin over the weekend, the singer shouted "Edinburgh City Council", before cutting himself off. He then pointed to his head and then the crowd. His brother Noel added: "Four billion f***ing pound they've had." The comments come after Liam claimed the band brought in £3billion into the city on night three at Murrayfield. And the night before, he claimed they brought in £2billion into Edinburgh. Back in June, the singer said the officials should 'leave town' during the Britpop icons' hotly anticipated concerts. Crowd love Liam's brutal anti-council rant as they deny calling Oasis fans 'drunk, lairy & fat' Then on their first night at Murrayfield Stadium, he demanded an apology from the council and branded officials "f****** slags." On Saturday night, the Cigarettes And Alcohol singer aimed another sweary rant at the local authority, saying they have "the cheek" to make comments about his fans. And on the third night, he said: "Three billion we've brought into this city over the past five days. And that's between you and us. Three billion f****** quid. "You won't see f*** all, because they'll rob it and spread it among their posh ugly mates. "Still waiting for our apology, bring it on down, you c****". However, Edinburgh Council bosses have refused to apologise for their comments despite Liam's sweary rants.
